Vehicle securing apparatuses

ABSTRACT

Vehicle securing apparatuses may include a main support arm. A base arm may be carried by the main support arm. A retainer assembly arm may be carried by the main support arm in spaced-apart relationship to the base arm. A retainer space may be defined by and between the base arm and the retainer assembly arm. A retainer assembly may include a retainer hasp pivotally carried by the retainer assembly arm. The retainer hasp may be pivotal between a retaining position extending into the retainer space and a release position substantially clearing the retainer space by application of force from outside and toward the retainer space against the retainer hasp. A hasp retaining member may be disposed in mechanical cooperation with the retainer hasp to normally maintain the retainer hasp in the retaining position on the retainer assembly arm. Accordingly, a structural member on an ATV or other vehicle may be extended into the retainer space as the structural member pushes the retainer hasp from the retaining position to the release position. The retainer hasp may return to the retaining position to retain the structural member in the retainer space as the structural member clears or passes beyond the retainer hasp.

FIELD

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to vehiclessuch as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), lawnmowers and the like. Moreparticularly, illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate tovehicle securing apparatuses which are suitable for securing a vehiclesuch as an ATV in a stable position on a transporting trailer or on theground or other surface.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is solely for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the illustrative embodiments of thedisclosure. Aspects of the background description are neither expresslynor impliedly admitted as prior art against the claimed subject matter.

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are motorized vehicles typically having fouror six wheels. The popularity of ATVs has increased considerably inrecent years. ATVs are frequently used for recreation or in hunting,camping and other outdoor pursuits to transport game, equipment and thelike. ATVs are commonly transported in the bed of a pickup truck or on aflatbed trailer. However, a lack of suitable methods for securing an ATVin a pickup truck or on a trailer may render the ATV vulnerable toinadvertently rolling in the pickup truck bed or on the trailer duringtransport. Moreover, failure to properly secure the ATV may render theATV vulnerable to theft under some circumstances.

Therefore, vehicle securing apparatuses which are suitable for securinga vehicle such as an ATV in a stable position on a transporting traileror on the ground or other surface are desirable for some applications.

SUMMARY

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed tovehicle securing apparatuses suitable for securing a vehicle such as anATV in a stable position on a transporting trailer or on the ground orother surface. An illustrative embodiment of the vehicle securingapparatuses may include a main support arm. A base arm may be carried bythe main support arm. A retainer assembly arm may be carried by the mainsupport arm in spaced-apart relationship to the base arm. A retainerspace may be defined by and between the base arm and the retainerassembly arm. A retainer assembly may include a retainer hasp pivotallycarried by the retainer assembly arm. The retainer hasp may be pivotalbetween a retaining position extending into the retainer space and arelease position substantially clearing the retainer space byapplication of force from outside and toward the retainer space againstthe retainer hasp. A hasp retaining member may be disposed in mechanicalcooperation with the retainer hasp to normally maintain the retainerhasp in the retaining position on the retainer assembly arm.Accordingly, a structural member on an ATV or other vehicle may beextended into the retainer space as the structural member pushes theretainer hasp from the retaining position to the release position. Theretainer hasp may return to the retaining position to retain thestructural member in the retainer space as the structural member clearsor passes beyond the retainer hasp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by wayof example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical flatbed trailer, with an illustrativeembodiment of the vehicle securing apparatuses securing an ATV in placeon the trailer in typical application of the vehicle securingapparatuses;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the illustrative vehicle securingapparatus on the flatbed trailer;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the flatbed trailer and the illustrativevehicle securing apparatus on the trailer, with the ATV (notillustrated) removed from the trailer;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the illustrative vehicle securing apparatus onthe trailer (partially in section), more particularly illustrating atypical apparatus mount assembly mounting the vehicle securing apparatuson a trailer front rail of the flatbed trailer;

FIG. 5 is an exploded front perspective view of the illustrative vehiclesecuring apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the illustrative vehicle securing apparatusmounted on the trailer front rail of the flatbed trailer (partially insection) in typical application of the vehicle securing apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the illustrative vehicle securing apparatus(partially in section), with a retainer hasp of a retainer assembly in aretaining position on the vehicle securing apparatus preparatory topositioning of a horizontal component (in cross-section) on a structuralmember of the ATV in a retainer space in the vehicle securing apparatusin typical application of the vehicle securing apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the illustrative vehicle securing apparatus,more particularly illustrating pivoting of the retainer hasp of theretainer assembly from the retaining position in a clockwise directiontoward a release position on the vehicle securing apparatus as thehorizontal component on the structural member of the ATV is inserted inthe retainer space against the retainer hasp;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the illustrative vehicle securing apparatus,more particularly illustrating further pivoting of the retainer hasp ofthe retainer assembly to the release position on the vehicle securingapparatus as the horizontal component on the structural member of theATV continues movement into the retainer space against the retainerhasp;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the illustrative vehicle securing apparatus,with the retainer hasp of the retainer assembly returned to theretaining position on the vehicle securing apparatus and retaining thehorizontal component on the structural member of the ATV in the retainerspace;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the illustrative vehicle securing apparatus,with the retainer hasp of the retainer assembly pivoted to the releaseposition on the vehicle securing apparatus to facilitate removal of thehorizontal component on the structural member of the ATV from theretainer space;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the illustrative vehicle securing apparatus,with the retainer hasp of the retainer assembly in a suspended positionon the vehicle securing apparatus and the horizontal component on thestructural member of the ATV removed from the retainer space;

FIG. 13 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the vehiclesecuring apparatuses, securing an ATV in place on the ground in typicalapplication of the vehicle securing apparatuses;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the illustrative vehicle securing apparatusillustrated in FIG. 13, more particularly illustrating selective heightadjustment of the vehicle securing apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a rear view, partially in section, of an illustrativeembodiment of the vehicle securing apparatuses, deployed in an uprightposition according to some applications of the vehicle securingapparatuses; and

FIG. 16 is a rear view, partially in section, of the illustrativevehicle securing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 15, deployed in ahorizontal position according to some applications of the vehiclesecuring apparatuses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and isnot intended to limit the described embodiments or the application anduses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary”or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, orillustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or“illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other implementations. All of the implementationsdescribed below are exemplary implementations provided to enable personsskilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure andare not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is definedby the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”,“lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, andderivatives thereof shall relate to the subject matter as oriented inFIG. 1. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressedor implied theory presented in the preceding technical field,background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It isalso to be understood that the specific devices and processesillustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the followingspecification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventiveconcepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions andother physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosedherein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expresslystate otherwise.

Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an illustrativeembodiment of the vehicle securing apparatuses is generally indicated byreference numeral 100. As will be hereinafter described, in someapplications, the vehicle securing apparatus 100 may be provided on aflatbed trailer 166 for the purpose of securing a vehicle such as an ATV(All-Terrain Vehicle) 160 in a stable position on the trailer 166typically for transport and/or storage of the ATV 160. In alternativeapplications, the vehicle securing apparatus 100 may facilitate stablesecurement of a lawnmower or any other type of vehicle on the trailer166. The flatbed trailer 166 may have a conventional design with awheeled trailer frame 167, a pair of trailer side rails 169 and atrailer front rail 170. A trailer ramp (not illustrated) may beselectively deployed from a rear end of the trailer frame 167 tofacilitate loading and unloading of the ATV 160. A trailer tongue 171may extend forwardly from the trailer frame 167 for coupling to a towingvehicle (not illustrated). The vehicle securing apparatus 100 mayexpeditiously secure and stabilize the ATV 160 on the trailer 166 toprevent the ATV 160 from inadvertently rolling backwards on the trailer166 typically during transport and/or storage of the ATV 160 on thetrailer 166. The vehicle securing apparatus 100 may furtherexpeditiously release the ATV 160 to facilitate unloading of the ATV 160from the trailer 166.

Referring next to FIGS. 2-12 of the drawings, the vehicle securingapparatus 100 may include a main support arm 101. As illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5, the main support arm 101 may have a lower arm end 102, anupper arm end 103, arm sides 104, a rear arm surface 105 and a front armsurface 106. In some embodiments, the main support arm 101 may beselectively length-adjustable or height-adjustable with respect to thetrailer front rail 170 of the trailer 176 according to the knowledge ofthose skilled in the art and typically as will be hereinafter described.

A retainer assembly arm 116 may extend from the main support arm 101beyond the rear arm surface 105. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the retainerassembly arm 116 may be disposed in substantially perpendicularrelationship with respect to the main support arm 101. As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, an arm space 122 may extend through the retainer assemblyarm 116 for purposes which will be hereinafter described. In someembodiments, the retainer assembly arm 116 may include a pair ofgenerally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart arm plates 117. The armplates 117 may extend from the respective arm sides 104 beyond the reararm surface 105 of the main support arm 101 typically at the upper armend 103. The respective arm plates 117 may have proximal plate ends 118at the main support arm 101 and opposite, inwardly-turned distal plateends 119. The arm space 122 may be defined by and between the rear armsurface 105 of the main support arm 101, the arm plates 117 and thedistal plate ends 119 of the respective arm plates 117. A pair ofsubstantially parallel, spaced-apart plate flanges 120 may extend fromthe respective distal plate ends 119.

A base arm 108 may extend from the rear arm surface 105 of the mainsupport arm 101. The base arm 108 may be generally elongated anddisposed in substantially parallel, spaced-part relationship withrespect to the retainer assembly arm 116. A retainer space 112 may beformed by and between the main support arm 101, the base arm 108 and theretainer assembly arm 116. The base arm 108 may have a proximal arm end109 at the rear arm surface 105 of the main support arm 101, a distalarm end 110 opposite the proximal arm end 109, an upper arm surface 114which faces the retainer space 112, and a lower arm surface 115. In someembodiments, the distal arm end 110 may taper, bevel or angle from theupper arm surface 114 to the lower arm surface 115, as illustrated, forpurposes which will be hereinafter described.

A retainer assembly 125 may be provided on the retainer assembly arm116. As will be hereinafter described, the retainer assembly 125 may besuitably configured to retain a horizontal component 162 (FIGS. 7-12) ona structural member 161 (FIG. 1) such as an ATV frame or front rack, forexample and without limitation, of the ATV 160 in the retainer space112. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, in some embodiments, the retainerassembly 125 may include a retainer hasp 126 which may be pivotallymounted in the arm space 122 in the retainer assembly arm 116. Theretainer hasp 126 may normally be deployed in a retaining position inwhich the retainer hasp 126 extends into the retainer space 112, asillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10. By application of force from outside andtoward the retainer space 112 against the retainer hasp 126, theretainer hasp 126 may be pivoted in the clockwise direction in FIGS.7-12 from the retaining position to a release position in which theretainer hasp 126 substantially clears the retainer space 112, asillustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 11.

As further illustrated in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the retainer hasp126 of the retainer assembly 125 may be generally triangular.Accordingly, the retainer hasp 126 may have a retaining edge 127. Anexterior edge 128 may extend from the retaining edge 127. An interioredge 129 may extend from the exterior edge 128 to the retaining edge127. A pivot vertex 130 may extend between the retaining edge 127 andthe exterior edge 128. A retaining vertex 131 may extend between theexterior edge 128 and the interior edge 129. A return vertex 132 mayextend between the interior edge 129 and the retaining edge 127. In someembodiments, the retainer hasp 126 may approximate a right triangle withthe retaining edge 127 and the interior edge 129 generally approximatingthe respective legs and the exterior edge 128 generally approximatingthe hypotenuse of the triangle. Thus, the return vertex 132 may define aright angle whereas the pivot vertex 130 and the retaining vertex 131may each have angles of 45 degrees. In alternative embodiments, theretainer hasp 126 may have the shape of a scalene or isosceles triangleor any other polygonal shape including but not limited to rectangular,pentagonal or hexagonal or an oval or other non-polygonal shape which isconsistent with the functional requirements of the retainer hasp 126.

The retainer hasp 126 may be pivotally attached to the retainer assemblyarm 116 in the arm space 122 (FIGS. 5 and 6) according to any suitabletechnique which is known by those skilled in the art. As furtherillustrated in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, a pivot opening. 133 mayextend through the retainer hasp 126 typically at the pivot vertex 130.The retainer hasp 126 may be disposed between the plate flanges 120 onthe respective arm plates 117 of the retainer assembly arm 116. A haspfastener 140 with washers 141 may be extended through a pair of alignedflange openings 121 in the respective plate flanges 120 and through theregistering pivot opening 133 in the retainer hasp 126. A securing nut142 may be threaded on the hasp fastener 140 and tightened against thecorresponding washer 141.

When the retainer hasp 126 is deployed in the retaining position, asillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10, the retaining vertex 131 of the retainerhasp 126 may be disposed within the retainer space 112 between the basearm 108 and the retainer assembly arm 116. The exterior edge 128 of theretainer hasp 126 may face away from the retainer space 112, whereas theinterior edge 129 of the retainer hasp 126 may face towards the retainerspace 112. Because the center of gravity of the retainer hasp 126 maygenerally correspond to the junction of the exterior edge 128 with theretaining vortex 131, however, the retainer hasp 126 may have a naturaltendency to fall through the retainer space 112 in the retainer assemblyarm 116 to the suspended position illustrated in FIG. 12. Accordingly, ahasp retaining member 136 may be disposed in mechanical cooperation withthe retainer hasp 126 to normally maintain the retainer hasp 126 in theretaining position on the retainer assembly arm 116. In someembodiments, the hasp retaining member 136 may include a tab, detent, orother structural member which may normally maintain the retainer hasp126 in the retaining position on the retainer assembly arm 116. Asillustrated, in some embodiments, the hasp retaining member 136 mayinclude a bar which may be provided on the retaining member edge 127between the pivot vertex 130 and the return vertex 132 of the retainerhasp 126. The hasp retaining member 136 may be generally elongated andoriented in transverse relationship with respect to the plane of theretainer hasp 126, and may protrude beyond opposite surfaces of theretainer hasp 126. Therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10, the haspretaining member 136 may normally rest on the arm plates 117 of theretainer assembly arm 116 against the pull of gravity to maintain theretainer hasp 126 in the retaining position and prevent the retainerhasp 126 from pivoting about the hasp fastener 140 and dropping throughthe arm space 122 to the suspended position of FIG. 12. In alternativeembodiments, the hasp retaining member 136 may include a spring or otherbiasing or retaining member which biases or retains the retainer hasp126 in the retaining position according to the knowledge of thoseskilled in the art. In some embodiments, a lock opening 134 may extendthrough the retainer hasp 126 typically at the retaining vertex 131. Apadlock or the like (not illustrated) may be extended through the lockopening 134 and secured to lock the retainer hasp 126 in the retainingposition.

At least one hasp retaining receptacle 124 may be provided on theretainer assembly arm 116 adjacent to the arm space 122. In someembodiments, a pair of spaced-apart, registering hasp retainingreceptacles 124 may be provided on the respective arm plates 117 of theretainer assembly arm 116 on opposite sides of the arm space 122, asillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Accordingly, a retaining pin (notillustrated) may be inserted through the registering hasp retainingreceptacles 124 to span the arm space 122 and maintain the retainer hasp126 in the retaining position.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, an apparatus mount assembly 146may mount the main support arm 101 of the ATV mounting apparatus 100 onthe trailer front rail 170 (FIGS. 2 and 4) or other structural componentor element of the trailer 166. The trailer mount assembly 146 may haveany design which is suitable for the purpose. In some embodiments, thetrailer mount assembly 146 may include an assembly mount bracket 147. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, two pairs of fastener openings 148 may extendthrough the assembly mount bracket 147. A pair of U-bolts 149 may beextended around the rear surface of the trailer front rail 170 andforwardly through the respective pairs of fastener openings 148 in theassembly mount bracket 147. Nuts 150 may be threaded on the U-bolts 149and tightened against the assembly mount bracket 147 to secure theassembly mount bracket 147 against the front arm surface 106 of the mainsupport arm 101. The height of the main support arm 101 and the base arm108 and retainer assembly arm 116 may be selectively adjusted typicallyby varying the vertical position of the main support arm 101 between theassembly mount bracket 147 and the U-bolts 149 prior to tightening thenuts 150.

Referring next to FIGS. 1-4 and 7-12 of the drawings, in typicalapplication, the vehicle securing apparatus 100 may be mounted on thetrailer front rail 170 (FIG. 4) of the trailer 166 typically bydeployment of the apparatus mount assembly 146, as was heretoforedescribed with respect to FIG. 5. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7, theretainer hasp 126 may normally be deployed in the retaining positionwith the hasp retaining member 136 typically resting on the uppersurfaces of the arm plates 117. Accordingly, the retaining vertex 131 ofthe retainer hasp 126 may protrude into the retainer space 112, with theexterior edge 128 of the retainer hasp 126 typically facing away fromthe retainer space 112 and the interior edge 129 of the retainer hasp126 typically facing toward the retainer space 112.

The ATV 160 may be loaded onto the trailer 166 typically by driving theATV 160 up a loading ramp (not illustrated) at the rear end of thetrailer frame 167. The ATV 160 may be driven forwardly toward thetrailer front rail 170 of the trailer 166 until the horizontal component162 on the structural member 161 of the ATV 160 approaches the exterioredge 128 of the retainer hasp 126, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Prior toengagement of the ATV 160 with the vehicle securing apparatus 100, theheight of the retainer assembly arm 116 and retainer assembly 125 may beadjusted to vertically orient and align the retainer space 112 with thehorizontal component 162 on the structural member 161 of the ATV 160. Insome embodiments, this may be carried out typically by loosening thenuts 150, sliding the main support arm 101 vertically with respect tothe U-bolts 149 and re-tightening the nuts 150 to secure the assemblymount bracket 147 against the main support arm 101. In otherembodiments, the main support arm 101 may be telescopically and/orotherwise adjusted for the purpose.

The ATV 160 may then continue to be driven forwardly on the trailer 166until the horizontal component 162 initially engages the exterior edge128 on the retainer hasp 126 and then enters the retainer space 112,pushing and pivoting the retainer hasp 126 from the retaining positionto the release position, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. In someembodiments, the tapered or beveled distal arm end 110 of the base arm108 may facilitate entry of the horizontal component 162 on the ATV 160into the retainer space 112. As the horizontal component 162 clears orpasses beyond and disengages the retaining vertex 131 on the retainerhasp 126, the retaining hasp 126 may return to the retaining positionillustrated in FIG. 10 typically under the influence of gravity as thehasp retaining member 136 typically falls back onto the upper surfacesof the arm plates 117 of the retainer assembly arm 116. Accordingly, itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, upon subsequentinadvertent reverse movement of the ATV 160 on the trailer 166, thehorizontal component 162 may engage the interior edge 129 of theretainer hasp 126. However, the hasp retaining member 136 may retain theretainer hasp 126 in the retaining position and thereby prevent thehorizontal component 162 of the ATV 160 from inadvertently exiting theretainer space 112. Therefore, the retainer hasp 126 may retain thehorizontal component 162 in the retainer space 112 and maintain theposition, stability and security of the ATV 160 on the trailer 166typically as the trailer 166 is towed by a towing vehicle (notillustrated) in transport of the ATV 160. In some applications, aretaining pin (not illustrated) may be inserted through the registeringhasp retaining receptacles 124 on the retainer assembly arm 116 toensure that the retainer hasp 126 remains in the retaining position inthe retainer space 112 as the horizontal component 162 remains retainedin the retainer space 112. In some applications, a padlock (notillustrated) may be inserted through the lock opening 134 in theretainer hasp 126 to lock the retainer hasp 126 in the retainingposition in the retainer space 112. This expedient may preventintentional and unauthorized disengagement of the ATV 160 from thevehicle securing apparatus 100 and theft of the ATV 160.

When it is desired to remove the ATV 160 from the trailer 166, theretainer hasp 126 may be manually pivoted from the retaining positionillustrated in FIG. 10 to the release position illustrated in FIG. 11.This may be accomplished by lifting the hasp retaining member 136 fromthe arm plates 117 of the retainer assembly arm 116 as the retainer hasp126 pivots about the hasp fastener 140, typically in the clockwisedirection illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, such that the retaining vertex131 of the retainer hasp 126 clears the retainer space 112 and insertsupwardly through the arm space 122 of the retainer assembly arm 116. Theretainer hasp 126 may continue to be pivoted in the clockwise directionuntil the retainer hasp 126 falls back to the rearward-facing suspendedposition illustrated in FIG. 12. Thus, as the ATV 160 is subsequentlydriven in reverse, the horizontal component 162 may initially engage thenow interiorly-facing exterior edge 128 of the retainer hasp 126,partially pivot the retainer hasp 126 in the counterclockwise directionand exit the retainer space 112. The retainer hasp 126 may then bemanually pivoted in the counterclockwise direction back to the retainingposition illustrated in FIG. 7 preparatory to subsequently againsecuring the ATV 160 in the trailer 166.

Referring next to FIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings, in some embodiments,the vehicle securing apparatus 100 may be deployed on the ground orother surface 176 to secure the ATV 160 in a secure and stable positionon the surface 176. Accordingly, the main support arm 101 may be securedin the surface 176 according to the knowledge of those skilled in theart. In some embodiments, the main support arm 101 may beheight-adjustable or length-adjustable and may include an apparatusmount member 154 which may be secured in the surface 176 according tothe knowledge of those skilled in the art. The main support arm 101 maybe telescopically adjustable with respect to the apparatus mount member154. An adjustment pin 156 may be inserted through a selected one ofmultiple, vertically spaced-apart pin openings (not illustrated) in themain support arm 101 and through a registering pin opening (notillustrated) in the apparatus mount member 154 to select and secure theheight of the base arm 108 and retainer assembly arm 116 above thesurface 176.

In typical application, the ATV 160 may be secured to the vehiclesecuring apparatus 100 as was heretofore described with respect to FIGS.7-12. Accordingly, the vehicle securing apparatus 100 may secure the ATV160 in a stable position on the surface 176. In some applications, aretaining pin (not illustrated) may be inserted through the registeringhasp retaining receptacles 124 on the retainer assembly arm 116 toensure that the retainer hasp 126 remains in the retaining position inthe retainer space 112 as the horizontal component 162 of the ATV 160remains in place in the retainer space 112. In some applications, apadlock (not illustrated) may be inserted through the lock opening 134in the retainer hasp 126 to lock the retainer hasp 126 in the retainingposition in the retainer space 112. Prior to engagement of the ATV 160with the vehicle securing apparatus 100, the height of the main supportarm 101 and the retainer assembly arm 116 and retainer assembly 125 maybe adjusted to vertically orient and align the retainer space 112 withthe horizontal component 162 on the ATV 160. In some embodiments, thismay be carried out typically by telescopically adjusting the mainsupport arm 101 with respect to the apparatus mount member 154 andsecuring the main support arm 101 using the adjustment pin 156, as washeretofore described.

Referring next to FIGS. 15 and 16 of the drawings, in some embodiments,the main support arm 101 of the vehicle securing apparatus 100 mayinclude a lower support arm segment 180 and an upper support arm segment181. The lower support arm segment 180 may be mounted on the trailerfront rail 170 (FIG. 4) or other structural component of the trailer166, or alternatively, in the ground or other surface 176, as washeretofore described with respect to FIGS. 13 and 14. Still further inthe alternative, the lower support arm segment 180 may be telescopicallyextendable with respect to an apparatus mount member 154, as washeretofore described with respect to FIGS. 13 and 14. The base arm 108and the retainer assembly arm 116 may extend from the upper support armsegment 181 of the main support arm 101. A hinge mechanism 184 maypivotally connect the upper support arm segment 181 to the lower supportarm segment 180. The hinge mechanism 184 may include any type of deviceor mechanism which facilitates pivoting of the upper support arm segment181 relative to the lower support arm segment 180 and maintaining andstabilizing the upper support arm segment 181 relative to a selectedangle relative to the lower support arm segment 180. Accordingly, theupper support arm segment 181 may be deployed and secured or maintainedat a selected angle with respect to a horizontal plane 190. Therefore,the retainer assembly 125 on the retainer assembly arm 116 may besuitably positioned to orient the retainer space 112 (FIGS. 7-12) toalign or register with and receive and retain a vertical component 163(illustrated in phantom) on the structural member 161 (FIG. 1) of theATV 160, or alternatively, any component on the structural member 161which is oriented between a horizontal position and a vertical position.

While certain illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have beendescribed above, it will be recognized and understood that variousmodifications can be made to the embodiments and the appended claims areintended to cover all such modifications which may fall within thespirit and scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle securing apparatus, comprising: anelongated main support arm; a base arm carried by the main support arm;an elongated retainer assembly arm including: a pair of generallyparallel, spaced-apart arm plates carried by the main support arm inspaced-apart relationship to the base arm; a pair of plate flangesterminating the arm plates, respectively; and an arm space between thearm plates; a retainer space between the retainer assembly arm and thebase arm; and a retainer assembly including: a generally triangularretainer hasp pivotally carried by the retainer assembly arm in the armspace, the retainer hasp pivotal from a gravity-induced retainingposition extending into the retainer space to a release positionsubstantially clearing the retainer space by application of force fromoutside and toward the retainer space against the retainer hasp, theretainer hasp having: a retaining edge; an exterior edge extending fromthe retaining edge; an interior edge extending from the retaining edgeto the exterior edge; a pivot vertex between the retaining edge and theexterior edge, the retainer hasp pivotally carried by the retainerassembly arm at the pivot vertex; a retaining vertex between theexterior edge and the interior edge, the retaining vertex disposedwithin the retainer space in the retaining position of the retainerhasp; and a return vertex between the interior edge and the retainingedge; and a hasp retaining member carried by the retaining edge of theretainer hasp, the hasp retaining member generally elongated andoriented in transverse relationship with respect to a plane of theretainer hasp and protruding beyond opposite surfaces of the retainerhasp, the hasp retaining member normally engaging the arm plates of theretainer assembly arm and supporting the retainer hasp against gravityin the retaining position on the retainer assembly arm.
 2. The vehiclesecuring apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one haspretaining receptacle carried by at least one of the arm plates of theretainer assembly arm adjacent to the arm space.
 3. The vehicle securingapparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one hasp retaining receptaclecomprises a pair of spaced-apart hasp retaining receptacles carried bythe arm plates, respectively, of the retainer assembly arm on oppositesides of the arm space.
 4. The vehicle securing apparatus of claim 1further comprising at least one lock opening in the retainer hasp at theretaining vertex.